Ultramarathon

An ultramarathon is any running event longer than the marathon length of 42.195 kilometres (26.2 miles, 45,760 yards).

There are generally two types of ultramarathon events: runs for a specified distance and runs for a specified time (with the winner covering the most distance in that time). The most common distances run are 50 and 100 miles or 50 and 100 kilometres, though several other distances (e.g., double marathons or 1000 miles) are also occasionally contested. The format of these events and the courses covered are highly variable and range from many loops run on a 400 meter track to point-to-point road or trail races. Many ultrarunning events are also characterized by other extreme course obstacles, such as heat, cold, elevation change, or otherwise challenging terrain. Many of these races (especially in the United States) are run on dirt roads or mountain paths, though some are run on paved roads as well. Usually, there are aid stations every five to fifteen km apart where runners can replenish food and drink supplies, or take a short break.

Timed events range from six or 12 hours to one, two, three and six days (known as "multi-days"). These events are generally run on a track or a short road course (often one mile or less).

One of the most famous Ultra Marathons was the Westfield Ultra Marathon, an annual race between Sydney and Melbourne in Australia and was run between 1983 to 1991. Greek runner Yiannis Kouros won the event five times during that period.

Australia is also the home of one of the oldest six-day races in the world, the Cliff Young Australian 6-day race, held in Colac, Victoria. The race is held on a 400 metre circuit at the Memorial Square in the centre of Colac and has seen many epic battles over the years since its inception in 1984.

The 20th Cliff Young Australian 6-day race was held between the 20-26 Nov 2005. Yiannis Kouros was to rewrite the record books in that event when he beat his existing world 6-day track mark and set a new overall World 6-day record of 1036.851km.

Well known ultramarathons

• 100km de Millau
• Angeles Crest 100 Mile Endurance Run
• Badwater Ultramarathon
• Comrades Marathon
• Grand Raid de la Réunion
• Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run
• Leadville Trail 100
• London to Brighton
• Marathon des sables
• Mohican 100 Trail Run
• Spartathlon
• Swiss Alpine Marathon
• Two Oceans Marathon
• Ultra Trail Tour du Mont Blanc
• Vermont 100 Mile Endurance Run
• Wasatch Front 100 Mile Endurance Run
• Western States Endurance Run

Well known ultramarathon runners

• Lahcen Ahansal
• Gordy Ansleigh
• Bruce Fordyce
• Serge Girard
• Wally Hayward
• Achim Heukemes
• Andy Jones-Wilkins
• Scott Jurek
• Dean Karnazes
• Nikki Kimball
• Yiannis Kouros
• Frith van der Merwe
• Stu Mittleman
• Pam Reed
• Don Ritchie
• Ann Trason
• Tim Twietmeyer

See also

International Association of Ultra Runners

External links

• Multiday Running
• Stan Jensen's ultra website
• World Ultra News
• Ultrarunning Online
• the Westfield Run
• International Association of Ultrarunners
• Cliff Young Australian 6-day race